Naloxone has been hailed as lifesaving. Why isn’t it given to those who need it?

The spray can reverse an opioid overdose and access to it has been eased in recent months, but access is still limited

In late March, the Food and Drug Administration attempted to increase access to naloxone, a drug that can reverse an opioid overdose, by making it available over the counter rather than just by prescription. The move was hailed as a “strong step forward” in preventing overdose deaths by Xavier Becerra, the health and human services secretary.

But big hurdles remain, said Dr Bharath Chakravarthy, an emergency physician at the University of California, Irvine, and other providers who treat people who are addicted to opioids.